System and method for venue attendance management

Abstract

A system and method for managing attendance at a venue such as a fair, theme park, state park, and the like, is generally disclosed. The venue may having a plurality of different attractions managed at least in part by a computerized operational venue management system that interacts with one or more patrons having a mobile communications device (e.g., cell phone, PDA, Blackberry®, and the like). The patron may receive show information, for example, and remotely select options including ticket purchases for a show or attraction. Payment may also be authorized remotely, and an electronic ticket(s) may be provided. Moreover, real-time updates may be sent to the mobile communications device to provide ongoing information about the attractions such as show times, available tickets remaining, time to navigate to an attraction, and so forth.

1 . A method for managing attendance at a venue, the venue having a plurality of different attractions managed at least in part by a computerized operational venue management system, the method comprising:
 receiving at a mobile communications device from the computerized operational venue management system information related to at least one attraction within the venue, the mobile device associated with a patron of the venue, the venue having pre-defined boundaries;   responding to the information to indicate a intent to purchase at least one entrance pass to at least one attraction; and   receiving a receipt at the mobile communications device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving includes receiving an electronic ticket to the at least one attraction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving navigation information from the computerized operational venue management system to aid a patron in locating the at least one of the attractions within the venue. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving at least one of audio, video, and graphics related to the at least one attraction to aid in explaining the at least one attraction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of responding includes authorizing payment for the at least one entrance pass. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving a receipt includes receiving at least one pass to at least one attraction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of authorizing payment for the at least one entrance pass. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving periodic updates on a status of the at least one attraction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the status includes information related to available seating. 
     
     
         10 . A system for managing attendance at a venue, the venue having a plurality of different attractions, the system comprising:
 an operational venue management system that manages at least in part the plurality of different attractions, the operational venue management system comprising:
 a first component to transmit information related to at least one attraction within the venue to at least one mobile communications device associated with a patron of the venue, the venue having pre-defined boundaries; 
 a second component to receive information that indicates an intent to purchase at least one entrance pass to at least one attraction; and 
 a third component to communicate a receipt to the mobile communications device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the receipt comprises an electronic ticket to the at least one attraction. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a fourth component to transmit navigation information to aid a patron in locating the at least one of the attractions. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first component transmits at least one of audio, video, and graphics related to the at least one attraction to aid in explaining the at least one attraction to a patron. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second component receives authorization for a payment for the at least one entrance pass. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the third component transmits at least one pass to the at least one attraction. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising an update component configured to periodically send an update to the at least one mobile communications device related to a status of the at least one attraction. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the status includes information related to available seating. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a location tracking component to track the location of the at least one mobile communications device within the venue. 
     
     
         19 . A system for managing attendance at a venue, the venue having a plurality of different attractions, the system comprising:
 an operational venue management system that manages at least in part the plurality of different attractions, the operational venue management system comprising:
 a first component to transmit information related to at least one attraction within the venue to at least one mobile communications device configured to be carried by a patron of the venue, the venue having pre-defined boundaries maintained in a database readable by the operational venue management system; 
 a second component to receive information that indicates an intent to make a purchase associated with at least one attraction pre-defined as part of the venue; and 
 a third component to communicate a receipt to the mobile communications device.